A fire at Hillside Endarasha Primary School in central Kenya killed 17 boys and seriously injured 14 others, officials reported.

The blaze broke out around midnight, engulfing a dormitory while students slept. The victims were boys aged 9 to 13 in grades four to eight.

Authorities are investigating the cause, with President William Ruto calling the incident “devastating” and vowing accountability, CBS News has reported.

The Kenyan Red Cross is providing support to those affected. School fires are common in Kenyan boarding schools, often linked to protests over conditions or workload, with past incidents causing similar tragedies.

Written by B.C. Begley